Vital Records

Easy Ways to Obtain a Birth or Death Record

Should you have any questions, please call our customer service team at (614) 466-2531.

1. Local Vital Statistics Office - You can obtain birth and death records from the city or county health department where the event occurred. You can also obtain birth records from any city or county health department regardless of where the birth event occurred. (Exception: sealed adoption records may only be obtained from the state Office of Vital Statistics in Columbus) Local fees and operating hours vary. The local service options may be faster, due to the higher volume processed in this state office. Click here to review our statewide directory.

2. Walk-in - Same day service is available in our downtown Columbus location to walk-in customers from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The office is closed on state holidays.In our lobby, you can complete an application for a birth certificate, death certificate or paternity affidavit and pay the required fee by cash, credit card, check or money order. (Please note: a copy of an adoption file CANNOT be provided in our lobby on the same day. Customers may mail or submit the required documents with payment in our lobby; requests will be verified and researched, then copies will be mailed within one month.) While our office strives to provide counter service within 20 minutes, we cannot guarantee same-day issuance for any orders placed after 4:30 p.m. You may request a later date to return for the copy, or it will be mailed to you. Click here to review full instructions.

3. Online Ordering - Birth, death and paternity affidavit orders can be placed online with no additional fees. (Exception: sealed adoption records cannot be ordered online) Please allow processing time up tothree (3) weeks. For faster service, contact a local vital statistics office using the above instructions in option 1. Please note rush orders are not available through this online service, and orders cannot be cancelled once they are submitted.Click here to begin the online order process.